Extrusion press



y 1965 e. w. SIBLER 3,184,944

EXTRUSION PRESS Filed Sept. 18, 1963 s Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG: 42 1a INVENTOR. 605N767? M. S/BLER ATTORNEY y 25, 1965 I s. w. SIBLER 3,184,944

EXTRUS ION PRESS Filed Sept. 18, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

INVENTOR.

GUE/VTER W SIBLER ATTORNEY y 25, 1965 G. w. SIBLER 3,184,944

EXTRUSIQN PRESS Filed Sept. 18, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3v H WENTOR aunvrm m S/BL 1? QLMWWSM ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,184,944 EXTRUSION PRESS Guenter W. Sibler, Media, Pa, assignor to Baldwin -Lima Hamilton Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed dept. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 309,679 16 Claims. (Cl. 72-255) In general, this invention relates to a new and improved extrusion press and, more particularly, to an extrusion press capable of direct or indirect extrusion.

The extrusion of wire on hydraulic extrusion presses is traceable back to the beginning of the extrusion process itself. However, few if any hydraulic presses have been built exclusively for the purpose of extruding wire. Very often, the manufacturing program of rod, profile and tube would not be complete without wire extrusion. Compared with rolling of wire, the extrusion of wire is desired if quality wire is to be manufactured particularly for enameled and magnet wire and when a frequent change of program is anticipated. In the extrusion process, only the die which determines the wire diameter has to be changed. If the wire extrusion program is considered only for a more intensive utilization on an existing press, there is a good chance for filling a market need for extruded quality wire.

There are two possible processes for extruding, i.e., direct and indirect extlusion. In direct extrusion, the container remains stationary and the pressing stem with dummy block extrudes the billet while moving the metal along the container wall. This develops significant frictional forces between the billet and the wall of the container. In addition, the metal is not simply moved axially. The zone of deformation spreads along the entire length of the billet. Here, the inner layers of the metal flow faster than the outer layers. This all leads to energy losses. It is known that energy losses at the beginning of the extrusion of full length billets are greater than for short billets or just before the end of extrusion. The press must therefore at the beginning exert its maximum force and at the end of extrusion, its minimum force.

When extruding indirectly, the container is moving. Instead of the pressing stern, a closing piece seals off the container bore and the main ram moves the container. Friction between the billet and the container wall is practically eliminated and the zone of deformation concentrates in the vicinity of the die. Therefore, the thickness of the final discard of the billet can be reduced because there is less chance of drawing foreign inclusions from the surface of the billet into the die and extrusion itself. The cooling off of the billet during extrusion will increase the resistance, but this applies also to direct extrusion. Therefore, the indirect method has the following advantages:

(a) The reduced force is significant, approximately thirty percent compared to the direct method.

(b) There is almost no turbulent metal flow in the billet, and thus the press force is not dependent upon the length of the billet.

(c) The liner has a longer life due to the elimination of friction between the billet and the wall of the container liner.

' These advantages of the indirect method can be applied especially to the extrusion of wire. The advantage of having a press equipped for the direct as well .as for the Patented May 25, 1965 indirect method is normally negated by the higher initial cost of the equipment and also by the fact that for each method, billet loading is accomplished in a different way and manipulation with discs, dies, shells, and discards is also different. In addition, the saw has to be moved to another position. These complicated operations are in contrast to the demand for a simple, steady, automatic cycle, and are the cause for certain prejudices against the indirect method.

The present invention, therefore, contemplates a new press installation for the direct as well as indirect method based on a relatively simple build-up and providing for a fast conversion from one method to the other with the same cycles for the auxiliary steps of each method. The new press simplifies the conversion from one method to the other by requiring only a simple change in tools and the turning of a selector switch.

In the present invention, instead of the die and bolsters, the indirect stem with the die holder fastened to its face is mounted in a die slide. Whenever a shell is formed as when extruding copper and brass, it is normally good practice to fasten the die holder to the stem face. To keep metal away from the die holder, a shell disc is provided.

Loading of the indirect extruding apparatus of the present invention is accomplished in the same manner as with direct extrusion and with the same loader as the clean out disc. The inside diameter of the shell disc circumscribes the die in the die holder. If it is to be a two strand wire extruder, the shell disc would circumscribe the two dies in the die holder.

The shell disc may be provided with an outside diameter which is substantially the same as the inside diameter of the liner. The outside diameter of the die holder can be smaller than the outside diameter of the shell disc. As will be made clear hereinafter, the shell disc is constructed and arranged in a position so that none of the metal from the billet can contact the die holder front face radially outwardly from the die. The container can thus be allowed to move freely during its opening stroke after completion of extrusion.

It should be especially emphasized that the auxiliary steps of the indirect extrusion apparatus of the present invention are the same auxiliary steps which must be taken if the direct method is used. Severing of the two extruded wires is accomplished in the present invention instantly by two shear pins when the extrusion strokeis completed. Therefore, the wire may be coiled to the very end, and there will be no pause necessary to wait until a sawing operation is completed. This will cut down the time of the extrusion proecssconsiderably.

Despite the longer container stroke necessary in the indirect extrusion process of the present invention and, therefore, the necessary longer container housing guide supports, billet loading is accomplished with the container in the closed position as when extruding directly. This is done without the necessity of moving the loader to another position.

Thus, it is the general object of this invention to provide a new and better extrusion apparatus.

A further object is the provision of new and better wire extruding apparatus which can be utilized for direct or indirect extrusion.

Still another object of this invention is the provision'of 1 s3 a new and better wire extruder in which the sawing operationis eliminated. V

A further object is the provision of new and better indirect extruding apparatus in which the over-all time for' the extruding process for a given wire is considerably re- FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view of the extrusion press of the present invention in the first step of the extrusion process.

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic showing of the extrusion press of FIGURE 1 in the second step of operation.

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic showing of the extrusion press of FIGURES 1 and 2 in thethird step of operation. I

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic showing of the extrusion press of FIGURES 1-3 after the fourth step of opera- I tion.

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic showing of the extrusion press of FIGURES 14 after the fifth step of operation.

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic showing of the Xtltl.1

sion press of FIGURES l-5 after the sixth step of opera tion.

FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic showing of the 'extrusion press of FIGURES 1-6 after the seventh step of operation.

FIGURE 8 is a diagrammatic showing of the extru- I sion press of FIGURES 1-7 after the eighth step of opera tion.

FIGURE 9 is a cross sectional view of the pressing stem and container of the extrusion press of the present invention taken along lines 9-9 in FIGURE 4, prior to the severing operation.

FIGURE 10is an enlarged view of the cross section of FIGURE 9 after. the severing operation.

In FIGURE 1, there is shown the extrusion apparatus. of the present invention generally designated by the numeral 10. The extrusion apparatus 10 includes a stationary stem 12 mounted on a die. slide 14 and a fixed platen 16.

The stationarystem 121 has a suitable double wire die 18 at the end thereof opposite from die slide 14. I The stationary stem 12 has concentric therewith a platen stop 20 which extends less than the length of the stationary stern 12.v

A press stem 22 is placed in spacedrelation with respect to stationary stem 12 and axially aligned therewith. The press stem 22 has a dummy block 24 at the end thereof facingdie 18. Thepress. stem 22 is enlarged at the endthereof opposite from dumrny block 24.

A suitable container'ZS/is providedconcentric with stationary stem. 12. and havinga diameter slightly larger than'station'ary stem 12 capable of axial movement with respect to the axis of the stationary stem. FIGURE 1, in the initial, position of the extrusion apparatus of the present invention, the container 28 rests against platen'stop: 20.- A horizontally reciprocal container'carriage 30supportscontainer 28 and a suitable f shell discand cleanout disc conveyor 32. The conveyor 32 is'adapted for reciprocal motion from a position below the container 28 to a position in line with the liner 3410f container '28. As shown in FIGURE 1, the conveyorv 32 in theup position is supporting a suitable shell disc 36 which is annular in shape having an innersdiameter circumscribing the dies 18'and an outer diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the liner 34.

Between the shell'disc'conveyorfiz' and the press stern.

As shown in r actuator.

. 4, tion in which it ismoved out of the centerline of the extrusion press 10. The billetdoader 38 is capable of selective movement as is the shell. disc and cleanout disc conveyor 32.

Spaced above the press stern 221is a horizontally and vertically movable inverted U-shaped spacer 42. The U-shaped spacer 42 has a width equal to the diameter of theenlarged ram body26 andthe container 28 for tion and the billet loader38 and shell disc conveyor 32 have placed their respective billet 40 and shell disc 36 into alignedposition.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the'press stem 22 is moved toward the stationary stem 12 by a suitable hydraulic Movement of the press stem 22 clamps the billet 4t and shell disc 36 between the nose of the dummy block 24.a'nd the, die 18. This is doneat. low pressures. At the same time', shell disc 36 and one end of billet 40 will have entered the liner 34 of container 23.

Spacer 42 was lowered partially before the forward movement of press stem 22 so as to assure proper alignment of the spacer 4-2 with respect to the enlarged ram body 25. However, the spacer isnot lowered to its lowermost position in order to allow billet loader .33t0

be shifted out of position. The 'shell'disc conveyor 32 is lowered after the billet .49 and: shell disc 36 are clamped in the manner discussed above;

After the operation shown in FIGURE 2 is completed,

' V the spacer .42 is lowered .untilit is aligned with the ram tion, thecontainer is considered open as the stationary stem 12 is not inserted therein.

Between the positions of the extrusion apparatus 10 of the present invention "shown in FIGURE 3 and the position of'the apparatus shown in FIGURE 4, the extrusion process has been started. The extrusion starts by the exertion of high pressure on the press stem 22. The extrusion is finished when. container 28 reaches platen stop 20. The spacer 42 forces container 28 to move with the billet 40 as it is extruded. Thus, this is indirect extrusion. The product of this indirect extrusion is a pair of extruded wires stand 46. 'The billet 4% after extrusion leaves abutt 48 within the shell disc 3-6. The butt thickness is determined by the tool dimensioning.

Shortly before the end of the extrusion, a piercer ram 89 within pressstemj22hmoves forward pushing shear- 18 tosever wire extrusions -i and :46 from the butt 48.

This operation is bestv seenwith respect to the drawings in FIGURES 9 and 10 andythe discussion of these figures recited below. 7

It should be noted that-during thissevering operation, coiling ,of the wire extrusions '44 and .145. can be accomplished withoutinterruptions. V After theextrusion and severing operation of FIGURE 22 is a billet loader 1'68. The; billet loader 38 is shown in the; loading position in'FIGURE 1 with a billett). 'restin'g'thereon- The billeteloaderisihas a second 'posi- 4, the-main, cylinder. piercer ram and pressstem 22 are decompressed and retracted 5' The. container28 .is moved to thefully opened position pushing the spacer 42 back to its initial position Where it is lifted'uPwardly. The die slide 14 thenv shifts the stationary stem 12 out of the extrusion apparatus centerline an'dfplacesan ejection hole 5 i-into the press centerlinep' The clean'out disc conveyor 32.mounted;on the container carriage 30 then raises a cleanout disc 52 into thev centerline position between the press stem 22 and the liner 3420f container 28.. The presslstem 22 still has its 'shearpins 54 iandgiiofin their extendedpositiomas thereis no-motive powerto retract them. The shearpins will be returned when the press stem 22 contacts the cleanout disc 52, as shown in FIGURE 6.

It should be noted that during the extrusion process, a shell 58 was formed surrounding the shell disc 36 and extending along the liner 34. Since the stationary stem 12 has a. diameter smaller than the shell disc 36, the shell 58 will not stick to the stationary stem 12 when the container 26 is moved to the position shown in FIGURE 5.

As shown in FIGURE 6, the container 28 is now returned to its closed position by forward movement of the press stem 22 toward the ejection hole 50. The press stem 22 with dummy block 24 eject the butt 40, shell disc 36 and shell 58 as well as the cleanout disc 52 into the ejection hole 50. While this occurs, the shell 58 is crushed against the back wall of the ejection hole 50.

The cleanout disc 52, butt 40, shell disc 36, and crushed shell 58 rest on a suitable waste receiving table 60 for easy removal of the waste material from the ejection hole 5i However, before the waste material is removed, the press stem 22 is retracted and the container 28 fully opened as shown in FIGURE 7. The die slide 14 is then shifted to return the stationary stem 12 to the extrusion press centerline. The waste on the receiving table 69 in the ejection hole 50 will then be delivered to a separator on a manipulating table by suitable auxiliary apparatus (not shown).

After the operation of FIGURE 7 is completed, the container 28 is moved to the right until it abuts platen stop 26 and is in the closed position ready for the next extrusion.

It should be noted that if a direct extrusion of the billet is desired, the spacer block 42 is not used so that the container 28 will remain in position while the billet is extruded. All the other operations would remain the same except for the maintaining of spacer 42 in its upper position.

In FIGURE 9, there is shown the apparatus of the present invention after the extrusion of the wires 44 and 45 but prior to the shearing thereof. As shown in FIGURE 9, the stationary stem 12 is annular in cross section and has two spaced catch tubes 62 and 64 running the length thereof and supported by guide plates 66. Only one guide plate 66 has been shown in FIGURE 9, it being understood that there are a plurality of such guide plates spaced along the length of the stationary stem 12. The guide plates are supported axially by a bolt 68 which is screw connected to the die holder portion 70 of the die 18. The die holder 70 has two passageways 72 and 74 extending therethrough and in line with a pair of die inserts 76 and 78. It will be understood that for various types of wire, it is only necessary to vary the die inserts. It should also be noted that the shell disc 36 has an inner diameter which circumscribes the die inserts 76 and 78 and an outer diameter which is greater than the diameter of the die holder 70 and stationary stem 12.

The press stem 22 is shown integral with the enlarged ram body 26. However, the press stem 22 is annular and has located therein the piercer ram 80. Piercer ram 80 has a pair of nuts 82 at one end thereof abutting a locking plate 84-. The locking plate 84 and a suitable spring ring 86 provide limit stops for a return spring 88.for the piercer ram 89. I

The piercer ram 80 is mechanically connected to a shearpin'adapter 9i). The shearpin adapter 90 is shown as one utilized for two strand wire extrusion. However,

it will be understood, that if single strand or more than two strand wire extrusion is desired, a different adapter wouldbesubstituted for the adapter 90.

nose piston 94 is keyed to the cylinder 92 bysuitable keying slots 96 in the wall of the cylinder and a key 98 ori the dummy block nose piston 94.

The dummy block nose piston 94 is integral with the dummy block nose 100. The dummy block nose 100 has a pair of longitudinal slots therein which receive shear pins 54 and 56 axially aligned with the die inserts 76 and 73 respectively. Shearpins 54 and 56 are integrally connected with shearpin pistons 102 and 104 riding in suitable cylinders provided in the dummy block 24.

When the press stem 22 has moved to the position shown in FIGURE 4 wherein spacer 42 abuts platen stop 20, the dummy block nose 100 will be in the position shown in FIGURE 9. Then, piercer ram 8! is actuated and moved toward the stationary stem 12. This compresses spring 88 between locking plate 84 and spring ring 86. Further, adapter 90 being in abutting relation with shearpin cylinders 1G2 and 1% will force the shearpin cylinders forward toward die inserts 76 and 78 until the ends of the shearpins 54 and 56 have reached die inserts 76 and '78. Shearpins 54 and 56 have a slightly smaller diameter than the passageways through die inserts 76 and 78 and thus the wires 44 and 46 are sheared at the die insert. The dummy block nose piston 94 will not move, but will slide to the rear within adapter cylinder 92. Thus, the shearpins 54 and 56 and shearpin pistons 102 and 1594 will move relative to the nose 1% and the dummy block 24.

When the piercer ram hydraulic cylinder is decompressed, return spring 88 will force piercer ram away from the stationary stem 12. However, since there is no mechanical connection between adapter and shearpin pistons 102 and 104, the shearpins 54 and 56 will remain in their forward position as shown in FIGURE 5.

The remainder of the operation is as has been discussed above with respect to FIGURES 1-8.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Extrusion apparatus comprising a horizontally disposed stationary stem, 21 die mounted on one end of said stationary stem, said stationary stem having a passage therethrough axially aligned with said die, a container having a passage therethrough mounted for axial movement from a closed position wherein said stationary stem is within said container passage and an open position when said stationary stem is axially aligned with and spaced from said container passage, an extrusion press stem axially aligned with said container passage and on the side of said container opposite from said stationary stem when said container is in the open position, billet loading means for loading billets to a position axially aligned with and spaced between said extrusion press stem and said container, and a selectively operative rigid spacer, said rigid spacer being selectively placeable between said extrusion press stem and said container, said spacer providing a one-way mechanical linkage between said extrusion press stem and said container, said extrusion press stem having an extrusion portion thereof fitting within said container passage, said spacer having a passage therethrough for allowing said extrusion portion to pass therethrough.

2 The extrusion apparatus of claim 1 wherein said spacer is U-shaped in cross section, said spacer being adaptedfor vertical movement with respect to said extrusion portion, said extrusion press stem having an enlarged main body, said enlarged main body and said spacer having surface engaging portions when said spacer is axially aligned with said extrusion press stem.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 including a cleanout disc and shell disc conveyor, said cleanout disc and shell disc conveyor being mounted for movement with said container, said'cleanout disc and-shell disc conveyor having a first position aligned with said container passage and a second position below the lowermost portion of said container, said cleanout disc and shell disc conveyor being placed immediately adjacent the side of said container opposite from said stationary stem.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 including stationary stern mounting means, said stationary stem mounting means having a passage therethrough axially aligned with said stationary stern passage and said container passage, said stationary stem being movable with respect to said startionary stem mounting means passage from a position' aligned with said container passage to a position out of alignment with said container passage, a cleanout disc housing, said cleanout disc housing being integral with said stationary stem and movable therewith, said cleanout disc housing being axially aligned with and closing said stationary stem mounting means passage when said stationary stem is in said last-mentioned position out o axial alignment with said container passage.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 including a shell. disc having an outer diameter slightly less than the inner diameter ofsaid container passage, said shell disc being annular in shape and having an inner diameter circumscribing said die, a die holder supporting said die, said disc abutting said die holder to prevent contact between the flowing metal of the billet and the end face of the die holder radially outwardly from. the periphery of the die.

6. Theextrusion apparatus of claim 5 wherein said stationary stem has an outer diameter slightly less than the outer diameter of said shell disc.

7. The extrusion apparatus of claim 5 wherein said die includes multiple die inserts for multiple wire extrusion, said shell disc having aninner diameter circumscribing said multiple die inserts.

8. The extrusion apparatus of claim 1 including a piercer ram within said extrusion press stem, a shearpin axially aligned with said piercer ram and passing through the working end of said extrusion press stem, said shearpin having its free end flush with the Working end of said tion to said second position, means for returning said piercerrarn from said second position to said first posi- I tion, said shearpin remaining in said second position when said piercer ram is returned to said first position by said last-mentioned means.

9. The extruding apparatus of claim 1 including a cleanout disc, said cleanout disc having a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of said container passage, said cleanout disc being positionable axially aligned with said container passage by a cleanout disc and shell disc conveyor after a billet has been extruded through the die.

10. A methodof extruding metal comprising the steps of providing an extrusion press stem spaced from and axially aligned with a stationary stem, inserting the stationary stem in a container mounted for axial movement with respect to the center line of the extrusion press stem,

placing a billet between the extrusion press stem and the stationary stem, moving the extrusion press stern tohold the billetbetween. the'stationary stern and the extrusion pressstem, moving the container toward the extrusion press stem with the billet is inserted within the container, mechanically coupling the extrusion press stem .to the container, extruding the billet through a die and a passage in the stationary stem while-moving the extrusion press stem-toward the' stationary'stern, shearing the extrusion at the die before moving the. extrusion press stem away. from the stationary stern, removing the mechanical coupling between the extrusionpressstem and the container,

moving the stationary stem outof axial alignmentwith theextrusion press stem, and cleaning out the container by moving the extrusion press stem into the container.

11. The method of claim 10 including the step of plac ing a shell disc between the billet and the die whose inner diameter circumscribes the dieand Whose outer diameter is less than the diameter of the passage through the container, and removing said shell disc from Within said containerby said cleaning step.

12. The method of-claim 10 including the step of placing a cleanout disc Whose outer diameter is slightly smaller than the diameter of the passage through the container between the container and the extrusion press stem after the step of removing the mechanical connection between the. extrusion press stem and the container, and providing a cleanout housing with a closed end axially aligned with the extrusion press stem on the side of the container opposite from the extrusion press stem when the stationary stem is out of axial alignment with the extrusion press stern and container, the step of moving the extrusion press stem'forward to clean out Waste material in the container including forcing the waste material into the cleanout housing.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of mechanically coupling the extrusion press stem to the container includes providing an inverted U-shaped spacer above the extruding portion of the extrusion press stem, and lowering the inverted U--shaped spacer over-the extruding portion'into axial alignment with an enlarged main portion of the extrusion press stem and the container for rigid connection between the enlarged main portion of the extrusion body and the container, the step of lowering the inverted U-shaped spacer being:aCCOmplishedafter the step of moving theextrusion press stem to hold the billet between the extrusion press stern and the stationary stem. 1

14. A method in accordance with claimlO wherein said step of shearing the extrusion includes moving a shearpin supported by the extrusion press steminto the die cavity. 1

l5. Extrusion apparatus comprising a horizontally disposed stationary stem, a die holder supported by a free end of said stem, a die mounted on and supported by said die holder radially inwardly-from the periphery of said die holder so that the die holder is provided with an exposed end face, acontainer having a passage therethrough, said stem being disposedwithin. said passage, a shell disc within said container in engagement with said exposed endface to 'preventcontact between a billet to be extruded and said end face radially outwardly from the die, an extrusion press stem axially. aligned with and of sufiicient configuration sons to enter said container passage, mounting means for supporting said stationary stem,

at cleanout dischousing supported by said mounting means, said mounting means alternatively supporting said stationary stern and cleanout disc housing inalignment with said extrusion press stem, and said cleanout disc housing being positionable to receive .said shelli discand an extrusion ybutt from saidlconta-iner passage as a result of movement of; said extrusion press'stern substantially through said container passage. 7 g V I 16.,Extrusion apparatus comprising an extrusion press stem, acontainer having'a passage into which said stem may enter, means'supp-orting a dieinaxial alignment with said passage the improvement vct'm'ipr isinga piercer ram within said extrusion press stein, a shearpin axially aligned with'jsaid piercer ram and passing through the working end 'of'said' extrusion press stem, said shearpin having its free end "flush with. the working end of said extrusion 'pressstem in a first position of the shearpin when. said pie'rcing ram is inits first positioms'aid shearpin having a' second position:extendingtorwardly of said working end when said'pie'rcerram has been moved into a second position toward said stationary stenn saidshearpinf having a diameterslightly smaller. i-than the diameter of said die, said piercer ram being mechanically connected to said shearpin when moving from said first position to said second position, means for returning sa-id piercer ram from said second position to said first position, said shearpin remaining in said second position when said piercer ram is returned to said first position by said last-mentioned means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 493,945 3/93 Robertson 2076.2

10 12/26 Bull 2076.2 12/ 38 Ki-opsch et a1 20716 10/55 Yack et a1 2071.2 10/60 Swanson 207l0.21 1/ 64 Vogel et a1. 207--1.2

FOREIGN PATENTS 3/28 Germany.

10 MICHAEL VLBRINDISI, Primary Examiner. 

1. EXTRUSION APPARATUS COMPRISING A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED STATIONARY STEM, A DIE MOUNTED ON ONE END OF SAID STATIONARY STEM, SAID STATIONARY STEM HAVING A PASSAGE THERETHROUGH AXIALLY ALIGNED WITH SAID DIE, A CONTAINER HAVING A PASSAGE THERETHROUGH MOUNTED FOR AXIAL MOVEMENT FROM A CLOSED POSITION WHEREIN SAID STATIONARY STEM IS WITHIN SAID CONTAINER PASSAGE AND AN OPEN POSITION WHEN SAID STATIONARY STEM IS AXIALLY ALIGNED WITH AND SPACED FROM SAID CONTAINER PASSAGE, AN EXTRUSION PRESS STEM AXIALLY ALIGNED WITH SAID CONTAINER PASSAGE AND ON THE SIDE OF SAID CONTAINER OPPOSITE FROM SAID STATIONARY STEM WHEN SAID CONTAINER IS IN THE OPEN POSITION, BILLET LOADING MEANS FOR LOADING BILLETS TO A POSITION AXIALLY ALIGNED WITH AND SPACED BETWEEN SAID EXTRUSION PRESS STEM AND SAID CONTAINER, AND A SELECTIVELY OPERATIVE RIGID SPACER, SAID RIGID SPACER BEING SELECTIVELY PLACEABLE BETWEEN SAID EXTRUSION PRESS STEM AND SAID CONTAINER, SAID SPACER PROVIDING A ONE-WAY MECHANICAL LINKAGE BETWEEN SAID EXTRUSION PRESS STEM AND SAID CONTAINER, SAID EXTRUSION PRESS STEM HAVING AN EXTRUSION PORTION THEREOF FITTING WITHIN SAID CONTAINER PASSAGE, SAID SPACER HAVING A PASSAGE THERETHROUGH FOR ALLOWING SAID EXTRUSION PORTION TO PASS THERETHROUGH. 